2017 ANNUAL REPORT
From the Chairman From the Executive Director Avasant s goals have always been focused on more than just achieving business success. From our support of disadvantaged people, communities and countries, we show our personal and corporate values in a real and definable way. We are dedicated to driving a social and measurable change through our not-for-profit venture Avasant Foundation. Avasant Foundation continued to empower youth by creating employment opportunities through skill development training programs, while supporting local efforts toward science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) education and entrepreneurship, in the 7th year since its incorporation. It s a pleasure to share with you all, the achievements of our Foundation through this report. Sincerely, Kevin S. Parikh 2017 was a year of achievements for Avasant Foundation. While we saw unparalleled success in our Avasant Digital Youth Employment Initiative in Jamaica, we also were awarded the Skills for Global Services Grant by IDB and won the Global Impact Sourcing Award by IAOP. While Avasant Foundation thrives on innovation, none of our successes would be possible without the expertise of Avasant consultants and our initiative partners across the globe who have been tackling youth unemployment for decades through Impact Sourcing initiatives. In our Annual Report, I am pleased to share the growth of our Foundation s impact and footprint. Avasant Foundation is committed as ever to advancing the UN s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and empowering youth through inclusion and opportunity in the new digital economy. Sincerely, Chitra Rajeshwari
Foundation Overview Our Mission: To improve lives and communities by empowering youth in emerging economies through education, employment and entrepreneurship. Our Vision: That all youth are afforded opportunities to become contributing members of the global community and succeed in the new digital economy. Our Strategy: To leverage the expertise and relationship of Avasant, a leading global business management and digital strategy firm, to create opportunities for youth to succeed in the workforce of today and tomorrow. Our Values: S T R I V E Service: to humanity Teamwork: working together for better results Responsibility: taking accountability for our actions Integrity: doing the right thing Vision: working with purpose Excellence: in our commitment
Programs Overview Youth Empowerment in the New Digital Economy Education In-person and online training in the demand-driven technology industry and soft skills to prepare disadvantaged youth for employment with ICT, BPO and other companies Employment Job creation initiatives such as Impact Sourcing and enabling employment for training graduates Entrepreneurship ignite entrepreneurial digital skills training for youth on using their creativity to start and run sustainable businesses Additional supporting services: Mentorship and more general STEM Education Global Program Partners:
2017 Results 247 deserving youth ages 18-26 graduated from Avasant s Digital Youth Employment training in the Caribbean 90% of trainees secure ICT/BPO employment within two months of graduation 95% of trainees believe that AF trainings met or surpassed their expectations $210,000 raised through Golf for Impact 6,500 Indian students in 56 public schools in Odisha and Bangalore were provided access to technology with instruction 25+ Leading ICT employers actively support AF Impact Sourcing initiatives
Global Memberships Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Kevin Parikh, AF s Chairman, and Chitra Rajeshwari, AF s Executive Director, were recognized two years in a row by the Clinton Global Initiative in 2015 and 2016, for enabling employment for over 94% of the deserving youth in Jamaica and Haiti who graduated from AF s Digital Youth Employment Initiative. Avasant also supports various organizations which have been working around the globe for economic stability and betterment of lives of people. Among the organizations to receive charitable contributions from Avasant and AF are Clinton Global Initiative, Rockefeller Philanthropies, Association Haitienne pour le Developpement des Technologies de L'Information et de la Communication (AHTIC), Sharefest Community, American India Foundation, TiE Foundation, Project HANDUP and Business Process Industry Association Jamaica (BPIAJ).
Global Memberships UN Global Compact Avasant has participated since 2011 with the UN Global Compact and is committed to upholding the ten principles with respect to Human Rights, Labor, Environment and Anti- Corruption. Avasant is strongly committed to environmental sustainability, and is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate any kind of discrimination among its employees. By extension, they also treat our partners and vendors with dignity and deploy fair practices in the selection and procurement process. Avasant has assisted multiple governments in creating frameworks for the development of IT and BPO industries by creating the enabling frameworks of standards, policy and human capital. These engagements have earned Avasant global appreciation for its philanthropic efforts, such as recognition in the Vault Consulting Survey 2016. Global Impact Sourcing Coalition AF is an Associate Member of the GISC which brings together leading corporations to promote Impact Sourcing as a hiring strategy to tackle youth unemployment.
Global Memberships
Global Memberships SDG Philanthropy Platform Avasant Foundation supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals 1- No Poverty, 4- Quality Education, 5- Gender Equality and 8- Decent Work and Economic growth and 10- Reduced Inequalities. AF is also a founding funder for India of the SDG Philanthropy Platform focused on helping Philanthropy advance work towards meeting the 17 SDG Goals by 2030. End poverty in all its forms, everywhere. Ensure inclusive and quality education and promote lifelong learning. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Global Memberships International Association of Outsourcing Professionals Recognized by the IAOP as a top Outsourcing Advisor, Avasant Foundation in partnership with IAOP launched the Women Empowerment and Opportunity in Outsourcing Survey and published the results of the survey at the IAOP Conference 2017. The purpose of this survey was to gather data on the perceptions of gender equality, empowerment and opportunities for women in the outsourcing industry and to identify where and how outsourcing has internationally empowered the lives of women, both inside and outside the workplace. Chitra Rajeshwari is the Lead Chair for the IAOP Women Empowerment Committee continuing to support efforts on its Women Empowerment initiative to catalyze changes in the global outsourcing industry to empower the lives of women both inside and outside the workplace.
Highlights by Region - Latin America and the Caribbean In 2017 AF scaled its Avasant Digital Youth Employment Initiative, skills training in the Caribbean, graduating 247 deserving youth from disadvantaged backgrounds in Jamaica. Over 90% of trainees secured employment with leading IT/BPO Service Providers within weeks of finishing their training. Avasant Foundation s training has brought out every possible positive thing from within myself. I got a job because of this and my children are so proud of their father. I feel over the moon because now I can give my children good education and a good life. - Henmark Greenwood, Montego Bay, Jamaica Trainees at Montego Bay, Jamaica In Trinidad & Tobago, AF has won a Global Skills Grant to bridge the prevailing skill-gap in the ITeS sector in T&T with a trained workforce. 50 youth will be trained in ondemand skills for a period of 18 months with AF s ADYEI in association with CTS College T&T. The objective the Global Skills Grant is to develop the IT/ITES sector and enhance its export potential in T&T. Further, the specialized training will help candidates understand the shifting business services landscape and attain industry standard certification levels. Additionally, the program could also have spillover benefits of maturing certain services and the larger business ecosystem within T&T. The Project starts in April 2018 and will end in November 2019 Partners on FUTURE JAMAICA include the government, JAMPRO, leading ICT companies and the BPIAJ industry group, University of Technology, Jamaica, Fi Wi Jamaica, USAID and Microsoft Above: Graduates in Kingston, Jamaica Left: Graduates in Montego Bay, Jamaica
Highlights by Region - Africa In the last five years, Avasant and its Foundation have helped catalyze the creation of over 6,000 new jobs in collaboration with governments, non-profits and the region s growing ICT service industry. A new 2017 effort involved advising the Rwandan government on how to optimize its investments in ICT for job creation and development. Avasant worked with the Government of Uganda to develop and strengthen ICT led innovation among the youth to enhance productivity competitiveness and promote efficient delivery of public services. Avasant and its Foundation helped the government of Uganda promote entrepreneurship by creating and piloting a TechnoSpark training. Through this World Bank funded effort, Avasant partnered with the RAN Innovation Lab and NITA-UICT industry association to offer the training in Kampala, primarily for women. Avasant Foundation is now looking to expand its ignite entrepreneurship training and incubation model in Africa and globally Left: Youth at AF partner Harambee in South Africa preparing for employment Right: AF trainees at ICT service provider Capfin, who later hired them Budding entrepreneurs in Uganda participate in TechnoSpark training to launch businesses
Highlights by Region - Asia girl rising 2.png Avasant Foundation deepened its investments in 2017 to help India reach its 2030 Sustainable Development goals by joining the SDG Philanthropy Platform as the first member of its India Founders Circle. The Platform co-hosted Silicon Valley's 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit which AF participated in co-hosted in India in 2017. Through the Digital Equalizer Program of the American India Foundation, Avasant Foundation has provided over 6,500 youth with access to technology in 565 government run schools in Odisha and Bangalore. Above, Below and Right: Youth in Indian schools participating in the Digital Equalizer Program In 2016, AF also continued to support Girl Rising and its work in girl empowerment and education. AF Chairman Kevin Parikh serves as a member on its US-India Advisory Board.
Highlights by Region United girl rising States 2.png Avasant Foundation supported in 2017 STEM and entrepreneurship education for disadvantaged youth in the United States as well as other initiatives in partnership with non-profits, including the following: The TYE Program inspires teens to experiment, innovate and provides training on how to build a start-up business. The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to empowering business leaders through lifelong education and support. STEAM Carnival inspires the next generation of doers, dreamers, innovators and inventors through hands on play-based and fun STEAM education. Sharefest Community Development is dedicated to creating an imprint of lasting positive change and building communities of care in the South Bay and Harbor Areas of Los Angeles County. Project Hand Up helps people experiencing poverty or homelessness raise money for their needs, such as housing, food or medical expenses.
In The Press - 2017 Media Highlights Mumbai, India, 24 th January, 2017: SDG Philanthropy Platform Launched in India Aims to Catalyze Partnerships for the Goals
Financial Contributions TOTAL FUNDS RAISED IN 2017 $869,955 AVASANT CORPORATE INVESTMENT $526,400 10% 30% 10% 50% AF Mission Driven Programs AF Supported Programs AF funded initiatives Operations cost
Golf for Impact Avasant Foundation hosts an annual charity golf tournament to fund its initiatives since 2014. The last event was held in March, 2017 at MountainGate Country Club. The entire golf course and club facility was reserved exclusively for this event. Thank you to our 22 sponsors who helped raise $210,000 for youth employment and skills development programs. Total Money raised- $782,167 All proceeds from Golf for Impact support Avasant Foundation s initiatives to create job opportunities, improve education, and empower youth. 2017 2016 2015 2014 $210,000 120 attendees 20 sponsors $210,000 120 attendees 22 sponsors $202,167 120 attendees 21 sponsors $160,000 110 attendees 17 sponsors Venue: Mountaingate Country Club Venue: Trump National Golf Club Venue: Mountain Gate Country Club Venue: Santa Ana Country Club
Our Team As an equal opportunity employer, Avasant and Avasant Foundation believe that our inherent strength lies in the intellectual and cultural diversity of our workforce. Avasant s workforce contributes towards the firm s goal of guiding its clients through often difficult, uncertain and ambiguous situations through their extensive knowledge, implicit understanding and passion and contributing their time towards charitable objectives through Avasant Foundation. The firm, through its policies, upholds human and employee rights and strongly believes in acknowledging and respecting individuals dignity, rights and ambitions.
Our Graduates
Thank you for supporting and investing in the future of our youth. 1960 E Grand Avenue, Suite 1050, Los Angeles, CA 90245 +1.310.643.3030 contact@avasantfoundation.org www.avasantfoundation.org